Can treating machine



June 1964 J. H. GORDON ETAL 3,135,303

CAN TREATING MACHINE Filed May 18, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 l a N3 INVENTORS. JAMES MFA 1e) G0DOIV W141. 751? 418597 GWEFFZOY June 1964 J. H. GORDON ETAL 3, 3

CAN TREATING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 18, 1961 IN V EN TORS.

Wm m 0/ a 5. N W Y 9 WW 8 A Z W Wan JMM J n 1964 J. H. GORDON ETAL 3,135,303

CAN TREATING MACHINE Filed May 18, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS JAMES f/fA/EY 60P00/V WAL TEE ALBERT Gl/[FFPY ATTaE/VE KS June 2, 1964 J. H. GORDON ETAL 3,135,303

CAN TREATING MACHINE m mw Filed May 18, 1961 June 2, 1964 J. H. GORDON ETAL CAN TREATING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 a V w 1 z 1 8 1 y a M d w e 4 l 0 WI...

%- rm ;m I%/? 1 I a INVENTORS.

ATTOENfYG June 2, 1964 J. H. GORDON ETAL,

CAN TREATING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 18, 1961 INVENTORS W Mm K r fi P. Mm Jaw.

United States Patent 3,135,303 CAN TREATING MACHINE James Henry Gordon, West Orange, and Walter Albert Guefiroy, Smoke Rise, N.J., asslgnors to American Can .Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed May 18, 1961, Ser. No. 111,098 12 Claims; (6!..141-66) The present invention relates to machines for treating cans filled with light powdery products prior to the time the cans are finally sealed and has particular reference to a vacuumizing and gassing machine which is capable of removing substantially all of the air from the can interiors while operating at high speeds Without pulling the product from the cans.

It is conventional, when packing pulverulent food products such as powdered milk, to subject the can, after it has been filled with the product and the cover loosely assembled to it but'before it has been finally sealed, to a vacuumuizing process in order to evacuate the air from the head space of the can and from within the interstices between the product itself and to then replace the evacuated air with an inert gas such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen to prevent deterioration of the product during subsequent storage. Thereafter the cover is finally sealed to the can in a hermetic seam.

In order to keep up with the industry-wide demand for more efiicient, higher speed operatiornit has become necessary to evacuate the cans at higher and higher speeds and to obtain vacuums of well over 29 inches of mercury within the cans. These developments have created serious operating problems, however, in that if these higher vacuums are drawn too suddenly, the rapid outrush of the air which is entrapped within the product agitates the product quite vigorously with the result that some of the product is pulled bodily from the can along with the air. :In order to prevent this, the instant invention contemplates the provision of a machine which is capable of operating at high speeds but which evacuates the can gradually and gently in such manner that the agitation of the product is minimized so that substantially none of the product is pulled from the can during the avacuating process. Thereafter the machine fills the evacuated cans with an inert gas and discharges them to a separate double seaming machine wherein the covers are hermetically sealed to the can bodies.

An object of the invention is the provision of a vacuumizing and gassing machine of simple and economical design which is capable of operating efliciently at high speeds without unduly disturbing the product within the can.

Another object of the invention is the provision in such a machine of a vacuurrunzing and gassing valve of improved design which makes it possible to subject the filled cans to carefully controlled, gradually increasing degrees of vacuum in order to provide a controlled evacuation of the air which is entrapped within the cans so that the product is not pulled from the cans along with the air.

Another object of the invention is the provision in such a machine of novel devices for supporting and transferring the cans.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings: FIGURE -1 is a plan view ota can vacuumizing and gassing machine embodying the principles of the instant invention;

3,1353% Patented June 2 1964 of a type which is suitable for processing in the instant machine;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a plan view on an enlarged scale taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. 2 and showing the vacuumizing and gassing valve of the instant machine;

FIG. '7 is asectional detail taken substantially along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional detail taken substantially along the line 8-8 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the line 9-9 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional detail taken substantially along the line ltd-i0 of FIG. 1, certain portions of the machine being omitted for the sake of clarity of illustration; and

FIG. 11 is anenlarged horizontal sectional detail taken through a portion of the machine turret and showing details of the sealing gaskets which surround each of the turret pockets.

As a preferred and exemplary embodiment of the instant invention the drawings disclose a can vacuumizing and gassing machine which is formed with a main frame which includes a main horizontal support plate 22 which is mounted on a suitable number of vertical legs 24. The support plate 2-2 has mounted on it a stationary shaft 26 (see FIG. 3) which carries a rotary turret 28, the

periphery of which is formed into a plurality of flat faces 29. The turret 28 is provided with a plurality of can receiving pockets 30 which are formed with lateral openings 32 which are centrally disposed in the fiat faces 29 and through which the fillled cans C are inserted for processing within the pockets 30.

The cans C may be of any type suitable for processing in the instant machine. As best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, one type of can suitable for such use comprises a conventional cylindrical sheet metal body D having its upper end formed into an outwardly extending flange F and having its bottom end closed by a double seamed,

hermetically tight bottom end G. The body D is preferably filled to a point closely adjacent its upper end with a powdery product P such as powdered milk. The flanged upper end of the body carries on it a loosely assembled can end H which is provided with an outwardly extending curled flange I which is lined with a suitable lining compound (not shown) and extends over the outwardly extending body flange F. The end flange I is Provided with a plurality of indentations K which engage the body flange F and hold the end flange I in spaced relationship thereabove to prevent the end H. from making hermetic engagement with the body D. By virtue of this construction, small'venting channels exist which lead from the interior to the exterior of the can C and which permit theflow of air from the interior of the can C and the flow of gas into the can C. Details of construction of the can C are shown in US. Patent 1,689,641.

The turret 28 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in-FI G. 1, by a pair of vertically spaced endless chains 36, 38, the inner flights of which are wrapped around the turret 28 for approximately 270 of its circumference, the upper chain 36 contacting the teeth of a large sprocket 40 which is formed around the upper peripheral edge of the turret 28 and the lower chain 38 contacting the teeth of a second large sprocket 42 which is formed around the bottom peripheral edge of the turret 28. The chains 36, 38 also operate in spaced horizontal planes around vertically spaced sets of smaller sprockets 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54 (see FIG. 1) in such manner that their outer flights substantially enclose the turret 28.

The sprockets 44 comprise the drive sprockets for the chains 36, 38 and are keyed to a short vertical shaft 69 (see FIG. which is journaled in a bearing 62 which is suitably mounted in the horizontal support plate 22. The shaft 60 is rotated from the main drive shaft 64 of the machine through a pair of spur gears 66, 68, the drive shaft 64 being driven from the power source through a chain 69.

The chains 36, 36 carry a plurality of flat sealing plates 70, the backs of which are formed with suitable reinforcing webs 72. Each sealing plate 76 is provided adjacent its leading edge with an upper pivot lug 76 and alower pivot lug 78 which engage around pivot pins 86 which are carried in vertical alignment by the chains 36, 38; As best seen in FIG. 9, the pivot lugs 76, 78 are provided with elongated openings 82 which are somewhat oversize with respect to the pivot pins 80 in order to provide floating mountings for the plates 70 so that the plates have some movement independently of the chains 36, 38. Each sealing plate 70 is provided with a centrally disposed arm 84 which carries a cam roller 86, the purpose of which is to make it possible to accurately control the position of the plate 70 with respect to the carrying chains 36, 38 as will be more fully hereinafter described.

The sealing plates 70 are spaced along the carrying chains 36, 38 at distances which correspond to the spacings between the pockets 30 of the turret 28, and are indexed with the turret 28 so that as each plate 76 is carried around the sprockets 44, it moves into radial alignment With one of the turret pockets 30 and fully covers the lateral opening 32 ofthe pocket, thus sealing the pocket from the external atmosphere, a sealing gasket 90 (see FIGURES 9 and 11) formed of rubber or other elastic material being provided which completely encircles each pocket opening 32 in order to make possible a hermetic seal between each plate '70 and the flat turret faces 29.

Each sealing plate 79 carries adjacent its lower end a laterally projecting can support shelf 94 which is formed with a pair of upturned can centering flanges 95 and is dimensioned to fit into a pocket 31) when the plate 70 is in sealing position against the turret 28.

The cans C are fed into the machine along a stationary support plate 96 by laterally extending fingers 98 which are indexed with the shelves 94 and are mounted on a feed chain 100 which operates around sprockets 102, 104, and 166, the sprocket 104 being the drive sprocket for the chain 100 and being driven from the main drive shaft 64 through a drive train which comprises a small sprocket 107, a chain 108 and sprocket 110 which is keyed to a cross shaft 112 which carries the sprocket 194 (see FIGURES 2 and 5).

The transfer of each of the cans C from the plate 96 to a support shelf 94 takes place as the sealing plate '70 which carries the shelf moves around the sprocket 44, as best seen in FIG. 1. During such movement, the cam roller 86 of the plate 76 operates in the groove 129 of a stationary cam 122 which is carried by bearing 62 between the vertically spaced drive gears 44 (see FIGURES 1 and 5).

The cam groove 120 is suitably shaped so that the can support shelf 94 is moved into position beneath its can C as the can is conveyed over the trailing edge 124 of the guide plate 96. As a result, the can C is transferred smoothly from the plate 96 to the shelft 94. As soon as this transfer has been effected, the movement of the chains 36, 38 around the sprockets 44 and onto the sprockets 40, 42 of the turret 28 removes the can C from the control of the feed finger 98 and carries it and its support shelf 94 in a circular path of travel inwardly of a stationary guide 126 and inserts them into a turret pocket 30. Thereafter, the chains 36, 38 and consequently the sealing plate 71), the support shelf 94, and the can C travel around with the turret 28, the engagement of the chains 36, 38 with the turret sprockets 40, 42 bringing the sealing plate 71) into flat engagement against the sealing gasket which surrounds the pocket 30 in which the can C is deposited. As the chains 36, 38 leave the sprockets 44, the cam roller 86 of the sealing plate '71 moves out of the cam groove and into engagement with a spring-backed pressure arm 128 (see FIG. 1) which is pivotally mounted in a pivot bearing 130 which is carried by the cam 122, the purpose of the pressure arm 128 being to press the plate 70 firmly into sealing contact with the gasket 90 to insure a hermetic seal therewith preparatory to the evacuation of the pocket 30. The seating of the plate 70 against the gasket 91) is facilitated by the floating pivot mounting by which the plate is secured to the chains 36, 38 and which permits the plate a measure of movement independent of the chains.

As soon as the sealing plate 71) is pressed into contact with the sealing gasket 90 to seal the pocket 30 from the external atmosphere, the vacuumizing and gassing cycle of the can C is begun. For this purpose, a large circular valve, generally designated as 132, is disposed above and in concentricity with the turret 28 (see FIG- URES 1, 3, and 6). The valve 132 includes a pair of stationary rings 134, 136 which are suitably bolted together and are held against rotation by three pins 136 which dependv from a holder 140 which is secured to the stationary shaft 26. Each pin 138 is surrounded by an expansion spring 142 which presses the lower valve ring 134 into a shallow groove 146 which is formed in an annular cover plate 148 which forms a part of the rotary turret 28 (see FIG. 3).

Each pocket 30 is connected to the valve 132 through a radial channel 150 which is formed in the cover plate 148 and extends from an opening 151 formed in the top of the pocket 30 and terminates in a vertical bore 152 which is formedin the cover plate 148 and opens upwardly against the bottom of the lower valve ring 134.

The upper valve plate 136 is formed with a group of evenly spaced uniform vertical bores 160, the upper ends of which are threaded. The bores lead downwardly into a continuous circular groove 162 which is formed in the underside of the plate 136 and is concentric therewith, the bores 160 preferably being of a diameter at least equal to the width of the groove 162. The groove 162 is divided into four separate manifold sections 164, 166, 168, by five plug pins 172 which are positioned in the bores 160 and project down into the groove 162 and seat on the upper surface of the bottom plate 134 (see FIG. 7), the heads of the plug pins 172 being threaded to engage with the threads of the bores 160. In the disclosed embodiment of the instant machine, the manifold sections 164, 166, 168 are vacuum manifolds, while the manifold section 17 0 is a gas manifold.

The bottom plate 134 is provided with a series of short arcuate ports 174 which are formed in its undersurface in vertical alignment with the groove 162 and with the bores 152 and are separated by radial walls 176 which are disposed beneath each bore 160. The ports 174 are shorter in length than the spacing between the bores 152 so that only one bore 152 can be operatively connected with any one port 174 at any one time.

Each port 174 is connected into the manifold section above it through an adjustable valve 177 which comprises a short bore 178 formed in the top wall of the port 174 and a valve stem 180 which is threadably mounted in the upper valve plate 136 in alignment with the bore 178. The upper end of the bore 178 is bevelled to provide a seat for the tapered bottom end of the valve stem 180.

As seen in FIG. 6, each of the manifold sections 164 166, 168, 170 connects with at least two ports 174 so that there is at least one bore 166 intermediate the plug pins 172 of each manifold section.

Suitable pipes 190, 192, 194, 196, provided with threaded nipples 198, are connected into an intermediate bore in each of the manifold sections 164, 166, 168, 1719 respectively, the excess bores 160, if any, in each manifold section being sealed off by means of cap screws 184.

Thus, the first manifold section 164 which spans three ports 174 requires one cap screw 184, the next two mamfold sections 166, 168 which span only two ports 174 each require none, and the last manifold section 1713 which spans four ports 174 requires two cap screws 184.

After the can C has entered a pocket 30, rotation of I the turret 28 brings the bore 152 which is associated with the pocket successively into communication with the ports 174 of the manifold sections 164, 166, 168, 170.

In order toprevent a violent outrushing of the air from which control the ports 174 of this manifold section 164 are preferably adjusted so that the successive ports 174 each pull a slightly higher vacuum in the pocket 30, the vacuum pulled by the first port which is encountered by the bore 152 of the pocket being so low that it will not pull the powdered product from the filled can C. In similar manner the pipe 192 of the second vacuum manifold section 166 is connected to a source of medium vacuum and the valves 177 of this second vacuum manifold section 166 are adjusted to continue the gradual increase in vacuum within the pocket 30. To finish the vacuumizing process, the pipe 194 of the third vacuum manifold section 168 is connected to high vacuum source which is capable of producing the highest degree of vacuum which is desired in the can C prior to the introduction of gas into it. Such vacuum maybe in excess of 29inches of mercury. By suitable adjustment of the valves 177 of this third and final vacuum manifold section 163, the vacuum within the can C is brought to the maximum by thetirne the bore 152 of the pocket 30 reaches the end of the final vacuum port 174. It will be obviousthat the various stages of vacuum can be very accurately controlled by adjustment of the valves 177 and,

if necessary, by changes in the length of the vacuum manifold sections 164, 166, 168, such changes being made possible by the interchangeability of the plug pins 172, the cap screws 184 and the supply pipes in the vertical bores 160. It is obvious, too, that the vacuum pipes 190, 192, 194 may be connected to separate vacuum pumps or may be connected to a single vacuum source through suitable reducing valves; also that each of the pipes 191 192, 194, may be connected to a high vacuum source and the valves 177 alone relied upon to produce the gradual increase of vacuum in the ports 174 of all three of the vacuum manifold sections.

After the desired evacuation of the can C has been obtained, the continued rotation of the turret brings the pocket 30 into communication with the gas manifold section 170 to introduce an inert gas such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen into the can C to replace the evacuated air. The gas is fed to the groove section 170 through the pipe 196, and flows into the pocket 30 through the ports 174, bore 152 and passage 150.

It is desirable to introduce the gas slowly into the pocket 39, and for this reason the gas manifold 170 is preferably made of sufficient length to service four gas ports 174. The valves 177 of these gas ports are adjusted to effect the desired rate of gas introduction into the pocket 30. As is the case with the vacuum manifolds, the length of the gas manifold 170 and the pressures with the gas ports 174 can be readily'adjusted to meet variations in operating conditions.

In order to prevent. leakage of gas from the pocket 30 during the gassing operation, the sealing plate 70 is held tightly against the gasket by a spring-backed presser bar 200 (See FIGURES 1 and 10) which engages the cam roller 86 of the plate 70. The bar 2% is suitably mounted in a holder 2112 which is secured to the machine frame.

It will be noted that the plate 7a is not pressed against the gasket 90 during the time that its cam roller 86 rides off the presser bar 128 and onto the presser bar 201 The reason for this is that during this portion of the operating cycle, the pocket 3%) is vacuumized and the air pressure on theoutside of the plate 71? holds it firmly against the turret 28.

After the can C has been thoroughly gassed, the chains 36, 38 ride off the turret sprockets 4t 42 and onto the sprockets 54, thus withdrawing the gassed can from the pocket 3t} and moving it back into the path of travel of the fingers 98. The can C is stripped from the support shelf 94 by a stripper bar 294 and moved onto and along a stationary discharge plate by one of the fingers 98 to a suitable place of discharge which may be the feed table of a double seaming machine (not shown) which seams the end H to the can body D. There is little or no tendency for the inert gas to leak from the can C during such discharge, since the interior of the can is at atmospheric pressure. During its movement around the sprockets 54, the position of the sealing plate '79 and support shelf 94 is controlled by a cam 266 which is mounted in the same manner as is the cam 122 and is provided with a groove 208 in which the cam roller 86 of the plate 70 rides.

After the can C has been removed from the support shelf 94, the chains 36, 38 carry the plate 70 and shelf 94 around the sprockets 52, 59, 48, 46 and back onto the sprocket 44 where it receives another can C; Be-

tween the cams 206 and 122, the cam roller 86 is confined between spaced guide tracks 210 to maintain control of the plate 70. In order to prevent sagging of the chains 3d, 38 during thelong runs between the sprockets 52, 50, 43 and 46, the plate 70 rides upon support rollers 212 which are carried on angle irons 214 mounted on the suport plate 22 of the machineframe.

'It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it wlil be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

We claim:

1. A can treating machine, comprising a rotary turret, a plurality of can receiving pockets formed in said turret and opening radially outwardly thereof, a pair of sprockets carried by said turret, one of said sprockets being disposed above said pockets and the other of said sprockets being disposed below said pockets, a pair of chains operating around said sprockets, a plurality of sealing plates each of which is pivotally and slideably mounted on said chains to be movable independently thereof and indexed with said pockets, means for inserting cans into said pockets, means for pressing said sealing plates into sealing engagement with said turret around said pockets to seal the latter and the containers therein from the outside atmosphere, and means for evacuating said pockets while they are sealed by said plates to withdraw the air from the sealed pockets and the containers therein.

'2. The machine of claim 1 wherein cam means are provided to control the position of said sealing plates and can inserting means relative to said chains when said sealing plates are out of engagement with said turret.

3. The machine of claim 2 wherein said cam means comprise a cam roller secured to each of said sealing plates and a pair of cam grooves engageable with said rollers for pivoting and sliding said plates relative to said chains to move said sealing plates into and out of engagement with said turret.

4. A can vacuumizing and gassing machine, comprising a rotary turret, a plurality of pockets formed in said turret and having openings facing outwardly thereof, a pair of vertically spaced endless chains, each of said chains having an inner flight and an outer flight, a pair of turret sprockets carried by said turret for supporting the inner flights of said chains, a plurality of pairs of support sprockets mounted around the periphery of said turret in spaced relationship thereto for supporting the outer flights of said chains, a plurality of sealing plates pivotally and slideably mounted on and spanning said chains to be movable independently thereof, said sealing plates covering and sealing said pocket openings when disposed on the inner flights of said chains, can carrying means carried by said sealing plates and positioned inwardly thereof in said pockets when their respective sealing plates cover said pocket openings, means for supporting and positioning said sealing plates and can carrying means while they are disposed on the outer flights of said chains between said support sprockets, and vacuuming and gassing means communicating successively with said sealed pockets while said can carrying means are disposed therein.

5. The machine of claim 4 wherein a cam roller is secured to each of said sealing plates, and wherein said supporting and positioning means comprise a cam groove engageable with said cam rollers to move said sealing plates relative to said chains.

6. A can treating machine, comprising a rotary turret, a plurality of can receiving pockets formed in the periphery of said turret and opening radially outwardly thereof, a pair of sprockets carried by said turret, one of said sprockets being disposed above said pockets and the other of said sprockets beingdisposed below said pockets, a pair of chains operating around said sprockets, a plurality of sealing plates mounted on said chains and engageable with said turret around said pockets to seal them from the outside atmosphere, can support means associated with each of said sealing plates and insertable into said pockets, a plurality of vacuum manifolds, each of said manifolds having a plurality of vacuum ports formed therein, means disposed immediately adjacent said ports for adjustably controlling the vacuum supply thereto to provide for incremental stages of vacuum in said ports, and means for successively connecting said vacuum ports with said pockets to effect gradual evacuation of said pockets.

7. A can treating machine, comprising a rotary turret, a plurality of can receiving pockets formed in said turret and opening radially outwardly thereof, a pair of vertically spaced sprockets carried by said'turret, a pair of chains operating around said sprockets, a plurality of sealing plates mounted on and spanning said chains, said sealing plates being indexed with said pockets .for sealing said pockets against the outside atmosphere, means car-l ried by eachof said plates. for supporting a can within said pockets when said plates are in sealing position, a stationary circular valve mounted adjacent said turret, a plurality of passageways formed in said turret and connecting said pockets with said valve, each of said passage ways terminating in a bore which rotates with said turret and opens onto said circular valve, said valve including a plurality of vacuum manifold sections and a gas manifold section, a plurality of ports associated with each manifold section and disposed in alignment with said bores, and valve means disposed between each of said ports and its associated manifold section to permit selective regulation of pressure within each of said ports to thereby provide for the controlled application of vacuum and gas to said pockets.

8. The machine of claim 7 wherein said stationary valve comprises a pair of superposed rings, said ports being arcuate and formed in a surface of one of said rings, the other ofv said rings being formed with a substantially continuous annular groove and with a plurality of bores which extend into said groove and a plurality of plug pins insertable into said bores to plug up said groove at spaced intervals to divide it into said vacuum and gas manifold sections. 7

9. The machine of claim 8 wherein each manifold section is provided with at least one bore intermediate its plug pins to provide connections for supply pipes which bring vacuum or gas into said manifold section.

10. The machine of claim 9 wherein all of said bores in said ring are of uniform dimension to permit selective placement of said plug pins and ,sup plytpipes whereby the lengths of the manifold sections can be easily adjusted. a

a 11. The machine of claim 10 wherein any excess bores in said manifold sections are sealed by cap screws, said cap screws, said plug pins and said supply pipes being interchangeable in said bores.

12. The machine of claim 6 wherein said chains have pivot pins mounted thereon, and wherein said sealing plates are provided with pivot lugs which are disposed closer to the leading edges of said plates than said cam rollers, said pivot lugs having'openings in which said pivot pins are disposed, said openings being oversized with respect to said pins so that'said sealing plates are rotatable and slideable on said chains.

References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Taylor Sept. 23, 1952 

1. A CAN TREATING MACHINE, COMPRISING A ROTARY TURRET, A PLURALITY OF CAN RECEIVING POCKETS FORMED IN SAID TURRET AND OPENING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY THEREOF, A PAIR OF SPROCKETS CARRIED BY SAID TURRET, ONE OF SAID SPROCKETS BEING DISPOSED ABOVE SAID POCKETS AND THE OTHER OF SAID SPROCKETS BEING DISPOSED BELOW SAID POCKETS, A PAIR OF CHAINS OPERATING AROUND SAID SPROCKETS, A PLURALITY OF SEALING PLATES EACH OF WHICH IS PIVOTALLY AND SLIDEABLY MOUNTED ON SAID CHAINS TO BE MOVABLE INDEPENDENTLY THEREOF AND INDEXED WITH SAID POCKETS, MEANS FOR INSERTING CANS INTO SAID POCKETS, MEANS FOR PRESSING SAID SEALING PLATES INTO SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID TURRET AROUND SAID POCKETS TO SEAL THE LATTER AND THE CONTAINERS THEREIN FROM THE OUTSIDE ATMOSPHERE, AND MEANS FOR EVACUATING SAID POCKETS WHILE THEY ARE SEALED BY SAID PLATES TO WITHDRAW THE AIR FROM THE SEALED POCKETS AND THE CONTAINERS THEREIN. 